The silence that followed the Nomu's collapse was deafening. My ears rang, my chest heaved with every strained breath, and my legs barely held me upright. I wanted to fall to the ground and never move again, but I couldn't. Not yet. Something felt... wrong.

A shiver ran down my spine, a heavy, oppressive air suddenly surrounding the area. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I instinctively gripped the bloodied dagger tighter in my hand.

From the shadows near the edge of the simulation zone, a slow, dragging sound echoed. It was faint at first, like nails scraping against stone, but it grew louder, more deliberate. And then I saw him.

A figure stepped into view, his disheveled appearance somehow more unsettling than the monstrous Nomu I'd just faced. Pale skin, bloodshot eyes that seemed to bore into my soul, and hands—several hands—clinging to his face, arms, and shoulders. Each one was positioned unnaturally, as if they were holding him together or keeping him from falling apart.

The man—no, villain—looked down at the lifeless Nomu, tilting his head in a way that made my stomach churn. His fingers twitched, and I noticed one of his hands was clenched tightly at his side. His voice, scratchy and venomous, cut through the air like broken glass.

"You..."

It was one word, but the malice in it sent a wave of dread crashing over me.

"You killed it," he hissed, his voice rising in pitch as he gestured toward the Nomu's body. "You... KILLED MY NOMU!"

The villain's hands flew to his head, gripping the hand-shaped appendages on his face as if trying to suppress the rage boiling over. His breathing became erratic, each exhale sharp and stuttering.

"I waited for this! Months! And you—" His voice cracked as he pointed a trembling finger at me. "You, some pathetic quirkless kid, RUINED EVERYTHING!"

I froze. The word "quirkless" hit me like a slap. How did he know? Was it obvious from how I fought? Or... was this someone who had been watching us all along?

"HEY!" Aizawa's voice, weak but firm, cut through the tension. He pushed himself to his feet, leaning heavily against the rubble for support. "Stand down, kid. He's dangerous."

Dangerous? That was an understatement. Even in his unstable state, there was something calculating about the way the villain moved, the way his eyes flicked between me and Aizawa. He wasn't just dangerous—he was pure chaos.

"You're going to pay for this," the villain muttered, his voice dark and low. His fingers twitched again, and I watched in horror as one of the hands clinging to his body seemed to come alive, flexing its fingers as he pulled it free.

"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" He stepped closer, his unsteady gait somehow more terrifying than if he had rushed me. "Or are you just frozen in fear, hero-in-training?"

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to move. My grip tightened on the dagger, though I knew it wouldn't do much against someone like him. "Who... who are you?"

The villain stopped, tilting his head like a curious predator. Then he laughed—a chilling, unhinged sound that echoed off the walls of the simulation dome.

"Who am I?" he repeated, his tone mockingly cheerful. "Oh, I don't know, kid. Who are you? The little rat who thinks he's a big hero just because he killed my masterpiece?"

My legs trembled, but I stood my ground. "I'm not afraid of you," I lied.

The villain's smile widened, the hands on his body twitching as if they were itching to move. "Oh, you will be."

Before I could react, he lunged, faster than I thought possible for someone who had been so unsteady moments ago. I jumped back just in time, narrowly avoiding his outstretched hand. The ground where I had been standing disintegrated into dust, crumbling like sand.

My heart skipped a beat. What the hell is that power?!

"Don't let him touch you!" Aizawa shouted hoarsely. "Run, Midoriya!"

Run? No. I couldn't leave Aizawa here. Not like this.

The villain straightened, his posture now eerily calm. He brushed the dust off his hands, looking at me with a sickeningly casual smirk. "You're quick on your feet. I'll give you that. But how long can you keep it up?"

He lunged again, faster this time. I ducked and rolled, narrowly dodging his hand once more. My body moved on instinct, years of parkour training kicking in as I vaulted over rubble and debris.

But he wasn't just fast—he was relentless. No matter how far I ran or how many obstacles I put between us, he was always right behind me, his hand outstretched, ready to turn me to dust.

"Stop running!" he snarled, his voice breaking into a manic scream. "Fight me, you coward!"

I couldn't fight him—not directly. One touch from him, and I'd be dead. But I couldn't keep running forever either. My body was already nearing its limit.

I had to think. Fast.

My eyes darted around the simulation zone, searching for anything I could use to turn the tide. Then I saw it—a collapsed support beam hanging precariously above the villain's path.

It was risky, but it was my only chance.

I led him toward the beam, zigzagging to keep him off balance. He followed, his movements becoming more erratic the longer I evaded him.

Just a little closer...

When I reached the spot, I jumped, grabbing hold of the beam's edge and pulling myself up. The villain skidded to a stop below, his eyes narrowing as he realized what I was doing.

"Do you really think you can outsmart me?" he sneered.

I didn't answer. Instead, I grabbed a chunk of rubble and hurled it at the already fragile support. The beam groaned under the added weight, and with one final push, it snapped, crashing down toward the villain.

He reacted fast, raising his hands to block the debris. His quirk disintegrated the rubble on impact, but the force knocked him off balance, sending him sprawling to the ground.

I didn't wait to see if he got up. I jumped down, sprinting back toward Aizawa.

The villain's enraged scream echoed behind me, but I didn't look back.